A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing more than 130 people and injuring over 570 others, as rescuers continued searching collapsed buildings for survivors.

The earthquake struck shortly after 7:30 am local time, with the epicentre reported near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region. Strong tremors were felt across several parts of Colombia, including Bogotá, as well as in neighbouring Ecuador and Venezuela.

Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as emergency teams reach areas that remain difficult to access and continue assessing damaged structures.

Three Floors Collapse at Cali Hospital

One of the most serious incidents occurred at Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, where around 30 per cent of the facility's infrastructure was reportedly damaged.

Three floors of the hospital collapsed, affecting sections used for pediatrics, internal medicine and parts of the neonatal unit.

Valle del Cauca Governor Dilian Francisca Toro said people were trapped inside the damaged structure. Firefighters, soldiers and civilian volunteers joined the rescue operation, using debris-removal equipment and forming human chains to move rubble.

Several survivors were rescued from the hospital during the initial hours of the operation, including four people pulled from the collapsed sections.

However, aftershocks complicated the rescue effort and increased risks for emergency personnel working inside damaged structures.

Patients Evacuated From Hospital

Parts of the hospital were declared unsafe following the structural damage. Medical teams subsequently moved patients to temporary treatment areas in gardens and parking lots around the facility.

Patients were evacuated using beds and wheelchairs, while those requiring specialised care were transferred to other hospitals across the Valle del Cauca region.

The damage has added pressure to Cali's healthcare infrastructure at a time when hospitals are already dealing with a large number of earthquake-related injuries.

Health Network on Red Alert

At least seven major healthcare facilities in Cali reportedly sustained significant structural damage, with some hospitals forced to suspend services.

Authorities placed the city's medical network on red alert as emergency departments reached capacity.

Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said the immediate priorities were rescuing people trapped under rubble and maintaining essential medical services.

The earthquake also caused extensive damage to residential and commercial properties. At least 30 buildings in Cali were reported to have suffered major structural collapses.

National Emergency Declared

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency following the earthquake.

The emergency declaration is intended to accelerate the deployment of resources, funding and military assistance to the worst-affected areas.

The regions of Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Chocó were among those reporting the most serious damage.

In a televised address, de la Espriella said the government would provide assistance to affected communities and coordinate the emergency response.

The declaration also allows authorities to streamline disaster-relief operations as rescue teams continue working in areas with damaged infrastructure.

US Announces $15.5 Million Assistance

International support has also begun reaching Colombia.

The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for the earthquake response.

The assistance is expected to support urban search-and-rescue operations, structural assessments and emergency medical facilities, particularly in locations where hospitals have been damaged or overwhelmed.

The international response is expected to complement the efforts of Colombian soldiers, firefighters, medical workers, volunteers and other emergency personnel.

Rescue Operations Continue

Search-and-rescue teams remained deployed across the affected regions as authorities assessed the full scale of the destruction.

Rescuers are using specialised equipment as well as manual methods to search collapsed buildings for people who may still be trapped.

Officials have cautioned that the final impact of the earthquake may not be immediately known because several areas remain under assessment.

For emergency teams, the priority remains locating survivors, treating the injured and securing damaged structures against further collapses as aftershocks continue.

The Colombian government is expected to conduct further assessments of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, roads and other essential facilities, as the disaster-response operation continues.